05 September 2008

Colossus

Not far ago, one evening, I heard an Englishman upon the radio, lauding a composer of his fancy. In reference to the musical genre, he said that this artist, "...bestrode it like a colossus."

I was so struck by the magnificence of this phrase: it gave vigour to the mind and lit the night.

I just found out that Shakespeare had Cassius speak of Julius Caesar so:

'Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow worldLike a Colossus, and we petty menWalk under his huge legs and peep aboutTo find ourselves dishonourable graves.Men at some time are masters of their fates:The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,But in ourselves, that we are underlings.'

The secret message of Cassius to the brooding jealousy of Brutus is revealed by Sri Aurobindo:

'Fate can be changed by an unchanging Will.'Cease your rule O stars of fortune.Tremble dust!Where I lead you do not chart!The hest of Destiny has unwoundThe trammels of my past.From the cords of life,Wind, Master-Weaver,Your tapestry of beauty.Creation shall have its reckoningUpon this spot.Born of breath,Most beloved of death,I admit no regret.